The Israeli Knesset has passed legislation aimed at halting the operations of the terror-linked United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) within Israel. The bill was sponsored by Knesset member Yulia Malinovsky from the Yisrael Beiteinu Party, who praised the courage of Knesset leadership and dedicated the law to victims of violence linked to UNRWA. The legislation includes two bills seeking to terminate the agreement that allowed UNRWA to operate in Israel and sever all relations between UNRWA and the Jewish state, citing evidence of Hamas infiltration within the organization.
The passage of the legislation faced significant objections from the Biden-Harris administration, which feared that it could force UNRWA to cease operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. U.S. pressure on Israeli politicians to stop the bill included direct calls from the U.S. ambassador to Israel to major party leaders in the Knesset. The State Department emphasized the essential services UNRWA provides to Palestinians and warned of the consequences of cutting off its operations, especially amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed the need to hold UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities accountable while ensuring humanitarian aid continues to reach those in need. Israel’s United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon accused UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas and expressed a commitment to working with other U.N. agencies to support humanitarian efforts in the region. The U.N. Secretary-General condemned the legislation, calling on Israel to uphold its international obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and other laws.
International reactions to the legislation have been swift, with governments hostile to Israel, including Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, and Norway, condemning the Knesset’s decision. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the vote as unprecedented and warned that it sets a dangerous precedent that violates Israel’s obligations under international law. Before the legislation passed, the State Department urged Israel not to suspend UNRWA’s operations in Gaza, emphasizing the vital humanitarian support provided by UNRWA and warning of potential legal implications that could affect U.S. security assistance to Israel.
Despite objections from various international actors, including the Biden-Harris administration, the Israeli Knesset passed legislation aimed at halting UNRWA’s operations within Israel due to concerns over Hamas infiltration within the organization. The bill seeks to sever all relations between Israel and UNRWA, citing evidence of criminal activities by some UNRWA employees. The legislation faced significant pushback from the U.S. and other countries, with concerns raised about the impact on humanitarian efforts in Gaza. However, Israeli leaders emphasized the importance of holding accountable those involved in terrorist activities while ensuring humanitarian aid continues to reach those in need.
